RIP Donna Summer
So, full disclosure, I am 19 years old. But thanks to a father with an expansive music collection, I listened to a lot of 70s soul and disco music, including, of course, Donna Summer. Summer was the first artist (ever; not just first female, and not just first black person) to have three consecutive double albums reach #1 on the United States’ Billboard chart, and if that is not enough to get you impressed, she also charted four singles on the U.S. Billboard charts within 13 months.
SubtleSkeptics feat. Shine Fu – “Blue Jeans” (Lana del Rey Cover)
Ever since I found this song about two hours ago, it has been on repeat. Usually when I hear a cool song, I listen to it for a little while and see if it is worthy of its own post, or if it is just a passing fad. However, as soon as I heard this song all the way through for the second time, I knew it deserved nothing less than its own feature on a much more popular website. But, for the time being, here is my take on SubtleSkeptics’ version of “Blue Jeans”.
AC Slater – “Sidewinder” (Drop the Lime Remix)
AC Slater’s “Sidewinder” only came out a few days ago (check the original here), but there are already remixes of the song popping up everywhere I turn. This particular remix, cleverly titled the Drop the Lime Remix, still incorporates the drops that make the original so great but add in a few easter eggs for the listener to find.
Check out the Drop the Lime remix of “Sidewinder” below!
(AND WELCOME BACK TO WGWI!)
Courtney Barnett – I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris
“I masturbated to the songs you wrote” claims Courtney Barnett over laid-back, slacker guitars in the first track “Lance Jr.” It’s all casual everything as she continues, “doesn’t mean I like you, man.” Can I get an amen? She’s channeling some serious early 90′s Liz Phair vibes, in vocal tone, instrumentally and of course lyrically. I am so on board with this LP, and therefore Courtney Barnett. Some tracks on this debut EP feature members of Dandy Warhols, Immigrant Union, and My Left Boot. Find out more about Courtney on Facebook.
Chiddy Bang – “Mind Your Manners” Video
Chiddy Bang dropped their newest video for their second single, “Mind Your Manners”. This song is off of their album, Breakfast.
The video is mostly just them jumping around places, but the song is extremely feel-good. Check it out below.
Lana Del Rey – “Blue Jeans” (Smims&Belle Remix) (feat. Azealia Banks)
I woke up this morning with the intention of finding a bunch of new music, since it is midterm season and I need a bunch of new music to keep my spirits up as I read all of the books I have been putting off since the beginning of the quarter. Luckily, finding music today was pretty easy. As I opened my email, I saw this remix of “Blue Jeans”, originally performed by Lana Del Rey. Unimpressed by Lana, I quickly skimmed the description and when my eyes hit “Azealia Banks”, I literally gasped.
Ever since I wrote about Banks a few weeks ago, I have been obsessed with this up-and-comer, so obviously, I began playing this remix for the sole intent of getting to her verse.
As I waited for Banks to start spittin’, I was actually extremely pleased by what I heard. This is far from the actual “Blue Jeans” and was a much more chopped version of the song, and the backing is completely changed to an electronic-based beat. Rey’s really annoying and whiny voice is heavily effected by Smims&Belle and, as the song goes on, Rey eventually is only singing “gangster” over and over in different pitches and lengths. And then Banks appears and all hell breaks lose. The beat really starts bumping, some tech taps come in, a hint of deck swipings, dub-step builds and, of course, a bunch of crazy bass.
Banks (obviously) kills it on this track, and spits like she does not give a fuck (which she probably doesn’t, judging from what I have seen on Twitter). Because of the repeating “gangster” from Rey, Banks references it a few times, with my favorite line being “gangsters not dead, i raised him”. Her voice is perfect in this, and every line has that same quick style like the rest of her songs.
Honestly, I could keep fan girling out over this song, but I think it is better if you listen and judge for yourself.
Think it is dope? Think it is whack? Lemme know in the comments!
Shit Robot – “Teenage Bass” b/w “Space Race”
DFA/ Shit Robot has released a two minute teaser of “Teenage Bass” and “Space Robot”, the first in a series of 12″‘s called The Green Machine. Order your limited vinyl copy here.
Santigold – “Look at These Hoes”
If there is one thing I like, it is obnoxiously egotistical songs. Lucky for me, Santigold’s latest track off of her CD, Master of My Make-Believe, which will drop on May 1st, is just that. With lines such as, “I got class, I can tell they don’t / Built to last, I can’t tell they wont”, there is really nothing not to like about this song.
Complete with a catchy beat, quick biting lines and cash register sound effects, “Look at These Hoes” is exactly what an up-beat pop and hip-hop fusion song should be.
YACHT – “Le Goudron” (Brigitte Fontaine with The Art Ensemble of Chicago Cover)
YACHT has taken the ‘surrealist revolutionary song’ “Le Goudron” by Brigitte Fontaine with The Art Ensemble of Chicago, and turned it into the people’s dance floor anthem. Of course, YACHT would take a track that resonates with their manifesto of free-love, admiration and goal of autonomy, and dress it up in a lovely keyboard and synth layers with some glitch-infused vocals. Download it for free from Soundcloud and listen to the original after the Jump!
Original song is right this way…
Identity Festival 2012
Identity Festival is ready to make its second round across the states and into Canada this summer. If you don’t remember our post about Identity Festival last year, read up on it here. This year’s line-up features Eric Prydz, Wolfgang Gartner, Excision, Madeon, Porter Robinson, Nero (DJ-set), Paul Van Dyk and more! Peep their homepage for the full line-up and get your tickets for only $25. Pretty sweet deal.